Detachable sailing keel



Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED-5, STATES PATENT l ori ce Herbert A. Geisler, Bristol, R. I.

Application October 23, 1948, Serial No. 56,081

, This invention relates to an improvement. in a detachablekeel for a small boat T Heretofore it has'been proposed to provide a keel for a rowboat or similar small boat wherein the boat may be converted into a sailing, boat. Such a sailing keel is attached to the .boat in a manner which usually requires raising the boat from the water or turning the boat over on shore to have access to the bottom thereof in order to attach the keel thereto. It is desirable to provide a sailing keel which may be readily attached to the :bottom of a rowboat to convert the same into a sailing boat and wherein the keel may also be readily detached from the boat so that the boat may be used in the manner for which it was originally designed, all while the boat is inthe water.

An object of the invention is the provision of a sailing keel and manner of attaching the same in place, so constructed as to secure the desirabilities mentioned above.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sailing keel of the above character which may be manipulated in and out of position on the bottom of a boat from the stern of the boat.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a sailing keel of a buoyant nature wherein the buoyancy thereof will aid in positioning the same when attaching the same to the :boat.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a skiff or rowboat equipped with a sailing keel embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of the boat turned upside down to more clearly show the keel and the means for attaching the same to the bottom of the boat;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a fragmental portion of the boat bottom also showing the keel and the means for attaching the same to the bottom of the boat;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the keel;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 5-5 of Figure 3; and

2 Claims. (Cl. 114-140) Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 56 of Figure 3 showing the manner in which the keel attaching means are secured to the bottom of the boat.

In proceeding with the invention, I provide a socket on the bottom of a small :boat into which one end of a removable keel may be placed, while the other end of the keel may be, detachably see cured at an accessiblelocation at the stern of the boat while the boat is in the water. 'The keel may be made of any various suitable material, preferably of wood in order that the same may be buoyant to aid in positioning andattaching the same from the boat.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, It! designates generally a rowboat or the like to which is attached a sailing keel embodying my invention. The boat is of a usual construction having a bottom ll, sides I2, stern I3, and a bow M. The bottom ll carries spaced similar strips l5 and I6, preferably made of wood, and tapered from either side of the center toward the end thereof. These strips are secured in spaced relation to the bottom of the boat by means of bolt and nut fastening I1, best shown in Figure 6. Thus, there is provided a channel l8 extending longitudinally of the bottom of the boat substantially centrally thereof. The forward end of the channel extends to near the bow I4 and a nosepiece l9 abuts against the adjacent edges of the strips l5 and I6 and is of greater height providing a shoulder 20. A plate 2| extends across the channel It! and contacts with the shoulder 29. The marginal edges of the plate are secured to the strips such as by fastening means 22 which may be screws or other similar devices. Thus, a pocket 23 is formed at the forward end of the channel l8. The other end of the strips I5 and I6 extends to the stern l3, and each is provided with an opening 24 aligning with each other.

I preferably make the sailing keel 25 of wood in one piece shaped so as to provide centrally thereof a substantial trapezoidal-shaped fin 26 and a reduced forward portion 21. The other end of the keel is provided with an opening 28, which, when the keel is in position, will align with the openings 24 in the strips i5 and IS. The keel is also provided on either side thereof with spacer strips 30 which also function to more or less strengthen the keel.

The keel is slidalbly related to the channel with the reduced portion 21 received in the pocket 23 in interlocking relation therewith. With the keel in the proper position in the channel, a pin 3|, which in the present instance is in the form of a usual cotter pin, is inserted through the now aligned openings 24, 28 to lock the keel in the channel. The spacing between the strips is such that the keel is loosely received therein to facilitate the sliding of the keel in the channel and 3 also to provide for any swelling of the keel 25 or the strips l5, [6.

In attaching the keel to the boat, the keel is placed in the water with the forward end thereof next to the stern l3 and in line with the channel, the :buoyancy of the keel aiding in positioning the keel in this relation to the boat. The keel is next pushed into the channel to position the reduced portion 21 within the pocket 23. With the keel n o er s i e o nin s 4,, 2 will be aligned and-the pin 3t may be inserted through these openings to lock the keel in the channel. All this may be readily accomplished by a person leaning over the stern oi the bpat, and reaching into the water to manipulate the keel in or out of the channel I8.

I claim:

1. In a sailboat, means forminga channel on the bottom of the boat extending longitudinally from the stern to adjacent the bow of the boat, at he inward nd p2rti n oi the channel tQnrQvi e po ket! a d tacha le e l having a slidi relat qn w th n aid. chan el an preview with a reduced ioltw m nd partied received, said pocket. and a d ta habl means at th stern and; nqrtien Qt said en mel o. R22 the reduced end in t poc nd the ke lath channel.

2. In a sailboat, spaced guide strips secured to the bottom of the boat and of a length to extend longitudinally from the stern to adjacent the bow of the boat providing a downwardly opening channel, means to close the forward end of said channel to provide a pocket having side, top, and bottom walls and open in continuation of said channel, a detachable keel having a sliding relation within said channel and having a redu ed e we d nd p ti n re i d in. aid poc et and a removable pin extending through said strips and said keel at the stem end portion 01. the keel.

HERBERT A. GEISLER.

REFERENCES CITED T ne ijollowing references are of record in i e file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

